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Stressed? Depressed? Having a hard time getting enough sleep? Millions of Americans are nixing over-the-counter and prescription medications in favor of something more natural: cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from the cannabis plant. The industry is ever-evolving, and new brands pop up every day. In this article, learn more about some of the best CBD edibles in 2023, as well as how exactly CBD works, what the benefits are, and what you should look for when shopping for your own gummies.
The Top 5 CBD Edible Brands of 2023
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite brands to give you a shortlist of go-to CBD edibles.
1. Best Overall: JustCBD
2. Best Variety: Diamond CBD
3. Best Vegan Gummies: Sunday Scaries
4. Best for Immune Support: Green Roads
5. Best Zero-THC: Premium Jane
Let’s go!
1. Best Overall: JustCBD
Source: JustCBDstore.com
In an industry that’s still overwhelmingly unregulated, JustCBD raises the bar for cannabidiol brands around the nation. They have a wide range of CBD gummies, with doses ranging from 8mg to 44mg per piece. All of their products are GMP-certified and third-party laboratory-tested, with the results shared publicly on their website. JustCBD infuses their gummies with only high-quality cannabidiol, so customers can ensure they’re getting an accurate dosage and pure ingredients. Choose from a variety of flavors. They even have CBD gummies for sleep specifically, sugar-free CBD gummies, and vegan CBD gummies. With excellent customer reviews and ratings and a powerful online presence, JustCBD is a trusted go-to for CBD fans.
● Price: $17.99-$99.99
● Dosage: 10mg-50mg CBD per serving
● CBD type: CBD isolate and full-spectrum
● Trustpilot rating: 4.4/5
2. Best Variety: Diamond CBD
With Diamond CBD, you’re going to feel like a kid in a candy store. They have all of your favorite gummies from your youth, but this time, with a powerful injection of CBD.With flavors like Hawaiian Rainbow, Beary Beach, Rainbow Worms, Tropical Cherry, Blueberry Wave, and Island Apple, your tastebuds won’t know what hit them.
Diamond CBD products are third-party tested and their processes are environmentally and socially conscious, so you can always feel good about shopping with them. Their goal is to leave the world in better shape than they found it. Their products are cruelty-free, non-toxic, and GMO-free, making them a perfect complement to your healthy lifestyle. Plus, they use only US-grown hemp.
● Price: $17.99-$300.00
● Dosage: 10mg-100mg CBD per serving
● CBD type: THC-free
● Trustpilot rating: 3.2/5
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3. Best Vegan Gummies: Sunday Scaries
A lot of gummies are made with gelatin, which contains animal products. However, Sunday Scaries are all vegan! Their hemp is organically grown and never contains dangerous or toxic elements, like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Something else we like about Sunday Scaries CBD gummies is that they have options containing cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG), two other cannabinoids that can enhance your experience with CBD and yield even stronger advantages. CBN has some psychoactive properties but it’s far weaker than THC, while CBG has no psychoactive properties and isn’t capable of getting you high. So, you can pick the best option for you based on the kind of buzz you want.
● Price: $17.99-$99.99
● Dosage: 5m-50mg CBD per serving
● CBD type: Broad spectrum, full spectrum, and isolate
● Trustpilot rating: 2.4/5
4. Best for Immune Support: Green Roads
If you’re looking to give your immune system a little boost, Green Roads’ Rise N' Shines Immune Support Gummies might be the answer. These gummies are packed with Vitamins B12, C, and D, and elderberry. Their hemp is always USA-grown and gluten-free, and their products are pharmacist-formulated, tested by independent, third-party labs, and made in a cGMP-certified facility. Consumers can always count on a flavor-filled experience that’s also high-quality and trustworthy.
● Price: $19.99-$49.99
● Dosage: 10mg-25mg CBD per gummy
● CBD type: CBD isolate
● Trustpilot rating: 2.4/5
5. Best Zero-THC: Premium Jane
Premium Jane has a lovely variety of gummies, including full-spectrum CBD, delta-8 THC gummies, and THCV gummies. However, it’s their organic CBD gummies that caught our eye. By law, CBD products need to contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Premium Jane takes it one step further by removing any traces of THC from this product entirely. If you want to completely avoid any psychoactive ingredients, this is a good option for you.
They steer clear of ingredients like corn syrup and artificial flavors, and their gummies are gluten-free, vegan, and USDA-certified organic. The products are tested by a third-party lab, and available flavors include Strawberry Lemonade and Green Apple. In addition, they offer a satisfaction guarantee, carbon-neutral shipping, and free shipping on orders over $50. Premium Jane gives a positive and fulfilling experience from start to finish.
● Price: $48.00-$90.00
● Dosage: 25mg CBD per gummy
● CBD type: Broad-spectrum CBD
● Trustpilot rating: 3.4/5
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How to Choose the Best CBD Edibles for You
With the CBD industry an ever-evolving beast, it’s important for consumers to do their due diligence before making a purchase. Here are a few things to consider to help you decide which CBD edibles are the right choice for you:
● Third-party testing: Does the brand use an outside lab to test and verify the purity and safety of their CBD edibles? Their lab reports should be publicly available on their website. This allows you to confirm that you’re really getting what they claim you’re getting.
● Quality of ingredients: You’re likely taking CBD to improve your health and help you feel better. So, it’s sensible to avoid artificial colors and flavors, GMOs, pesticides, and herbicides. Additionally, be on the lookout for “proprietary ingredients.” Brands will sometimes sneak these into their products without disclosing the amount that they used. They’re not always a cause for concern (in fact, they’re common), but they can be.
● Source of the hemp: Aim to shop only with brands that get their hemp from the US. The closer the hemp is grown to the brand’s facilities, the better. The hemp should be responsibly sourced and, if possible, organic.
● Medical claims: Remember that the FDA has only approved one prescription CBD drug for medical usage. If a CBD edible brand makes any medical claims about what their gummies can do (such as that it can “cure” or “treat” an ailment), it’s best to shop elsewhere.
● THC under the legal limit: As we mentioned earlier, CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC in order to be federally approved. If the THC content in your gummies is above this, avoid it. Not only will it potentially get you high, but it’s illegal and can land you in hot water.
What is CBD and How Does it Work?
Why exactly is CBD all the rage right now? Well, it’s because of just how powerful this compound is.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the main cannabinoids in cannabis (meaning marijuana). However, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it’s found in much greater amounts in hemp plants. This is why most CBD is sourced from hemp and not marijuana, where it occurs in much smaller proportions.
While THC is psychoactive, meaning it makes you high, CBD is not, but it still offers many of the same benefits. It’s also not habit-forming, making it a great alternative for consumers looking to improve their mental and physical wellness without any psychotropic or addictive effects.
CBD is actually an umbrella term. Technically, it has three main variations:
1. Broad-spectrum CBD: This form of CBD contains all of the phytochemicals present in the cannabis plant except for THC. So, it cannot get you high or make you fail a drug test.
2. Full-spectrum CBD: This form also contains all of the phytochemicals present in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC.
3. CBD isolate: This is the purest form of CBD. It contains no other phytochemicals, including THC.
While research is ongoing, it appears that CBD interacts with certain receptors in your central nervous system (CNS) — more specifically, the endocannabinoid system — and this is how it’s able to provide such unique benefits. Let’s talk about that next.
The Benefits of CBD
While researchers are still working to better understand exactly how CBD can offer so many advantages, here are some of the benefits that consumers have experienced thus far:
● Relief from chronic pain.
● Reduction in inflammation.
● Fewer and less severe headaches.
● Relief from mental health issues, like anxiety and depression.
● Better control over certain epilepsy syndromes.
● Reduced symptoms of PTSD.
● Treatment for opioid addiction.
● Addressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) symptoms.
So far, the only proven usage of CBD is for epilepsy, but personal experience from millions of consumers tells us that CBD is capable of a lot more. People are turning to it as a natural alternative to relieve issues like migraines, joint pain, menstrual cramps, and insomnia.
Important note: Neither CBD nor THC should be used as an immediate replacement for medical intervention. If you’re considering using either cannabinoid to treat a mental or physical health issue, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider first!
Gentle Warnings
While CBD edibles offer a host of advantages, like most things we consume, there are potential drawbacks. For starters, if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should speak to your doctor before taking gummies or any other types of supplements. This will likely not be a recommended course of action for you. The same goes for individuals dealing with chronic illness — always talk to your doctor first.
Secondly, note that there are certain potential side effects. Consumers might experience dry mouth, reduced appetite, drowsiness, fatigue, and diarrhea. You also want to be careful with mixing CBD with certain medications, like blood thinners. And lastly, remember how important it is to shop with a brand you trust. Untrustworthy products mean that you might not be able to rely on the purity and dosage that they claim on the labeling.
Is CBD Legal?
Under specific circumstances, yes, CBD is legal! CBD comes from the hemp plant, and the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana within the Controlled Substances Act. This means that hemp and hemp-derived CBD products are federally legal, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. If a CBD product contains more than 0.3% THC, it falls under the legal definition of marijuana and is federally illegal, as well as illegal under certain state laws. Also, remember that THC shows up on a drug test, whereas CBD does not.
How Do I Know How Much THC is in my CBD Edibles?
It should say so right on the packaging. This is also a good time to check the third-party lab reports on the brand’s website. This is where you can confirm exactly what is in your CBD gummies and in what quantities/concentrations. Remember, it needs to be under 0.3% THC to be federally legal.
How to Take CBD Edibles
To have a positive experience, it’s best to follow the dosage guidelines on your individual product. However, if you’re new to CBD, then it never hurts to start with a smaller amount (maybe half a gummy) to see how your body reacts. You can then adjust the dosage from there. Avoid exceeding the recommended dosage on the packaging.
Keep in mind that CBD edibles can take about an hour to take effect. Wait for at least this long before taking more, if you didn’t get the desired effect. Additionally, other factors can affect how quickly and how drastically the side effects can hit you, including how long you’ve been taking CBD, your weight, your metabolism, whether or not you consumed it with food, and what type of edibles you’re taking. Should you experience any adverse side effects, you might need to scale back on how many milligrams you’re taking or discontinue use entirely.
Although some brands claim that you can take their gummies any time of the day, we recommend that you first take them when you plan on being home and won’t need to drive or operate heavy machinery. CBD can induce relaxation, and furthermore, we all might react a little differently to it. Clear your schedule and be prepared for ultimate peace, because that might very well be what you get. And hopefully, this goes without saying, but if you’re taking CBD edibles for sleep, take them shortly before you go to bed, and not outside of these times! Use them alongside your natural sleep-wake cycle, not against it.
Summary
As we look for more natural ways to feel better and improve our health and wellness, CBD is emerging as a strong contender. It’s an effective way to combat pain, boost your mood, and get better sleep – straight from Mother Nature. Shop with the five brands we covered in this article and you’re sure to have a relaxing, fulfilling, and memorable experience! If you decide to shop elsewhere, always check for how the brand sources its ingredients, ensure that third-party lab reports are available online, and see what other customers are saying about them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the main cannabinoids in cannabis (marijuana). CBD isn’t psychoactive, like THC is, but it still offers many of the same benefits. Most commonly, CBD is actually sourced from hemp and not marijuana, because hemp contains a lot more of the cannabinoid.
Is CBD Legal?
Yes, CBD is legal because its source — hemp — is also legal. However, the CBD product must contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. If it contains more, then it qualifies as a marijuana product and is illegal under federal law and some state laws.
Is CBD Safe?
Yes, CBD is generally safe. Unlike THC, it’s not psychoactive, so it will not get you high or show up on a drug test. As is the case with any supplement, there are inherent risks.However, reported negative side effects have been rare and mild. Speak to your doctor before taking CBD for the first time, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, trying to get pregnant, taking other medications, or dealing with a chronic illness.
What are the Benefits of CBD?
CBD offers a number of advantages, including pain relief, relaxation, better sleep, and improved mood.
How Should I Take CBD?
It’s best to follow the recommended dosage on the product label. To be extra cautious, if this is your first time taking CBD, start with a slightly lower dosage to first see how your body reacts. If you have no response or a more mild reaction than you’d like, slowly increase the number of milligrams that you take.
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